Solid state imaging apparatus and imaging system with writing memory selecting unit and reading memory selecting unit for outputting signals in an order of spatial arrangement

Abstract

Provided is a solid state imaging apparatus including: a writing memory selecting unit connected between a plurality of vertical output lines and a plurality of memories, configured to selectively store a signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of vertical output lines into at least one of the plurality of memories; a plurality of horizontal scanning channels configured to input the signals stored in the plurality of memories; and a reading memory selecting unit connected between the plurality of memories and the plurality of horizontal scanning channels, configured to selectively output the signal stored in the at least one of the plurality of memories to at least one of the plurality of horizontal scanning channels. The reading memory selecting unit is configured to output the signals in an order corresponding to spatial arrangement of photoelectric conversion elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A solid state imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a pixel portion comprising a plurality of unit pixels arranged in matrix,
 the plurality of unit pixels each comprising a photoelectric conversion element; 
 
 a plurality of vertical output lines arranged for each column of the pixel portion, configured to transmit signals output from the photoelectric conversion elements, 
 a plurality of memories configured to store the signals output from the photoelectric conversion elements; 
 a writing memory selecting unit connected between the plurality of vertical output lines and the plurality of memories, configured to selectively store a signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of vertical output lines into at least one of the plurality of memories; 
 a plurality of horizontal scanning channels configured to input the signals stored in the plurality of memories; and 
 a reading memory selecting unit connected between the plurality of memories and the plurality of horizontal scanning channels, configured to selectively output the signal stored in the at least one of the plurality of memories to at least one of the plurality of horizontal scanning channels, 
 the reading memory selecting unit being configured to output the signals in an order corresponding to spatial arrangement of the photoelectric conversion elements. 
 
     
     
       2. A solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of unit pixels each comprise a plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements; and 
 the signals output from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements are read as a group. 
 
     
     
       3. A solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of unit pixels each comprise a plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements, a pixel amplifying portion, and an electric charge transfer unit; and 
 the plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements are each connected to the pixel amplifying portion via the electric charge transfer unit. 
 
     
     
       4. A solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the order of outputting the signals stored in the plurality of memories from the reading memory selecting unit matches with an order of the photoelectric conversion elements in a direction along the column. 
     
     
       5. A solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising color filters of a plurality of colors,
 wherein the plurality of unit pixels each correspond to one unit of a color arrangement of the color filters. 
 
     
     
       6. A solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising color filters of a plurality of colors,
 wherein the reading memory selecting unit is controlled so that signals from photoelectric conversion elements including color filters of the same color are simultaneously output. 
 
     
     
       7. A solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical output line selecting unit configured to select only one of the plurality of vertical output lines to read a signal therefrom, to thereby match an order of signals to be transmitted from the plurality of vertical output lines and an order of signals to be output from the reading memory selecting unit. 
     
     
       8. A solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of memories are larger in number than the plurality of vertical output lines. 
     
     
       9. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim  1 ,
 wherein the plurality of memories are each configured to store a plurality of signals, and 
 wherein the plurality of signals comprise at least a reset signal and a photoelectric conversion signal. 
 
     
     
       10. An imaging system, comprising:
 the solid state imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and 
 an image signal processing unit configured to process a signal output from the solid state imaging apparatus.